Football: Wayne Hills gets the most our of annual summer camp

HITTING THE ROAD - The Wayne Hills varsity football team boarded busses to East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania late last month for their annual summer camp. The four-day retreat was filled with practice drills, 7-on-7 competitions and team camaraderie. The Patriots open the 2014 season on Friday, Sept. 12 at Northern Valley-Demarest in Bergen County.

EAST STROUDSBURG, PA - A solid four days of camp at East Stroudsburg University has the Wayne Hills football team and coaching staff feeling pretty good as the summer progresses.

Head coach Wayne Demikoff was very pleased with the way his players came through the annual camp in Pennsylvania. The second-year coach also announced that four team captains have been selected for the 2014 season at the conclusion of camp.

"We're very pleased with the selections of (seniors) Justin Hogan, Derek Bastinck, Brian Berges and Kyle Brackett as our captains," Demikoff said. "These guys have worked hard and know what it takes to make this team a winner this season. Even more importantly, I'm really happy to say we had a few other kids who were just as capable and deserving as a captain, and that goes to show the level of leadership we can expect this season. That's a pretty nice problem to have for our coaching staff.

"We plan to name a fifth captain on each game day, based on that player's performance in practice leading up to the game."

Hogan will most likely play fullback this season, as well as start on defense, where a number of NCAA Division 1 colleges have expressed a high level of interest.

Bastinck, who recently committed to Bucknell University, where he'll continue to play football in 2015, has been a solid lineman for the Patriots.

Berges is a dynamic tailback and defensive back while Brackett has done a very good job on the defensive line.

The Patriots played a 7-on-7 scrimmage opposite Clifton earlier this week and will be home this evening to face a very good Union City team in another 7-on-7, starting at 6 p.m.

"The kids have been doing a good job in practice," said Demikoff. "Like I said, the work ethic has been very satisfying to our staff. There's a lot of energy. When we have to get on them a little, they respond and pick up the tempo. We're excited by what we've seen so far."

At East Stroudsburg, the Patriots competed in a number of 7-on-7 competitions against high school football teams from New Jersey and Pennsylvania. There was also an extended, three-hour practice session in the afternoons.

"We got the work in, but the kids had the chance to enjoy the camp a little," said Demikoff. "We pushed hard in practice and in the 7-on-7s, but there was some down time in the evenings when the kids could see a movie and just relax. It went well."

While the captains were named, there were plenty of outstanding efforts turned in by players who should be key members of the Patriots this fall. Demikoff pointed to the play of seniors Anthony Vigorito, Chris Garrone and Pete Palczewski.

"Those guys looked really good," said Demikoff. "Pete has the opportunity to be our starting quarterback and has thrown the ball really well. Vigorito is becoming a very effective wide receiver and Garrone could be a big part of our offense out of the backfield."

The rest of July will be busy for the Patriots, both with practice and 7-on-7's. At the end of the month, the team will get 10 days off, then return in early August to begin the next phase of preparation for the season.

"We'll have a nice 10 days off, and for the kids and coaches, that means getting away from football a little, and being with their families," said Demikoff. "When we come back, we'll start wearing pads, but in the proper steps, as mandated by the state as far as hydration is concerned."

Putting on the pads will also signify the start of two-a-day practices, which leads to the opening scrimmage of the season, at home, against Middletown South, on Wednesday, Aug. 20, at 11 a.m. The next scrimmage is Aug. 23, when the team visits Montclair at 10 a.m. The third tune-up is on Aug. 28 at South Brunswick in an 11 a.m. game and the final scrimmage is slated for Sept. 3, when East Orange Campus comes to Wayne for a 6 p.m. game. The regular season opener is on Sept. 12, when Wayne Hills visits Northern Valley, Demarest, at 6 p.m.

Demikoff also announced that the annual Maroon and White game will be held at Patriots Field on Saturday, Aug. 16, at noon.

"The days are going by quickly," the coach said. "It's only two months until the season opener and there will be a lot of things happening in the summer."